_Alb._ Well, if it must be done, I’ad rather do’t, Than you should be expos’d to th’ scorn of others. _Ant._ Spoke like my noble Friend; Come dine with her to day, for I must leave you, And give you all the opportunity A real Lover wishes with a Mistress. _Ism._ So we have heard enough. [Ex. _Clar._ and _Ism._ _Ant._ Oh, were _Clarina_ chaste, as on my Soul I cannot doubt, more than that I believe All Womankind may be seduc’d from Virtue; I were the Man of all the World most bless’d In such a Wife, and such a Friend as thou. _Alb._ But what if I prevail, _Antonio_? _Ant._ Then I’ll renounce my faith in Womankind, And place my satisfaction in thy Amity. --But see, she comes, I’ll leave you to your task. Enter _Ismena_ and _Isabella_. _Ism._ Antonio not yet gone-- This must secure me. [Pulls down her Veil. _Ant._ _Clarina_, why thus clouded? _Isab._ I see he has most happily mistaken. _Ism._ I was going, Sir, to visit _Laura_-- _Ant._ You must not go, I’ve business to the Duke, And you must entertain my Friend till my return; It is a freedom not usual here amongst Ladies, But I will have it so; Whom I esteem, I’ll have you do so too. _Ism._ Sir, I am all obedience. [Exit _Antonio_, she pulls off her Veil; _Alberto_ salutes her with seeming lowness. _Alb._ Oh, how my Soul’s divided Between my Adoration and my Amity! [Aside. Friendship, thou sacred band, hold fast thy Interest; For yonder Beauty has a subtle power, And can undo that knot, which other Arts Could ne’er invent a way for. Enter _Antonio_, and listens at the Door. _Ant._ I’ll see a little how he behaves himself. [Aside. _Alb._ But she’s _Antonio’s_ Wife; my Friend _Antonio_. [Aside. A Youth that made an Interest in my Soul, When I had Language scarce to express my sense of it. _Ant._ Death! he speaks not to her. [Aside. _Alb._ So grew we up to Man, and still more fixt; And shall a gaudy Beauty, A thing which t’other day I never saw, Deprive my Heart of that kind Heat, And place a new and unknown Fire within? [Aside. _Clarina_, ‘tis unjust. _Ism._ Sir, did you speak to me? _Alb._ I have betray’d my self-- [Aside. Madam, I was saying how unjust it was _Antonio_ should leave me alone with a Lady, Being certainly the worst to entertain them in the World. _Ant._ His Face assures me he speaks of no Love to her now. _Ism._ Alas, he speaks not to me. Sure _Isabella_ was mistaken, who told me that he lov’d me. --_Alberto_, if thou art oblig’d to me, [Aside. For what I have not yet observ’d in thee, Oh, do not say my Heart was easily won, But blame your Eyes, whose forces none can shun. _Ant._ Not a word, what can he mean by this? _Ism._ Sir, will you please to sit a while?